Method of recharging boilers.



No. 831,336. PATENTEE SEPT. 18, 1906. F. A. GALE. METHOD OF REGHARGING BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1906.

Jive/2751 lug 11m meg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK A. GALE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METHOD OF, REICHARGING BOILERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906.

Application filed May 26,1905. Serial No. 262,340.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERIGK'A. GALE, a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Rechar g Boilers, of which the following is leiir, and exact description.

The invention relates to replacing the foul water in a-locomotive-boilerwith fresh or,

pure water, and designs primarily to provide I an improved method whereby the impure that thenoperation can. be frequently performed between trips without interruption in the service of the locomotive, and by occasional re lacement-during such periods the life of a oiler can be materially extended.

- By practicing this method frequent washing out ofthe boiler becomes unnecessary, and when treated Water .is used periodical replacementsuflices to keep the boiler in good condition. The invention further designs to provide-an improved method of replacing impure feed-water in a locomotive-boiler with fresh feed-water.

The drawings illustrate apparatus for carrying out the improved method.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the pipe connections located in the roundhouse or near the engine-stalls and any other apparatus which may be located at any convenient place. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the pipe-mains and the mannerof connecting the dome-cock of a boiler to the feed-water and blow-off mains.

The improved method contemplates simultaneous blowing-01f and filling of the boiler with fresh water in such manner that the -impurities in the boiler will be removed during the-blowing-ofli' operation. The simultaneous introduction and discharge of fresh superheated water under pressure and discharge of the foul feed-water makes it possible to frequently replace the foul feed-water. and remove all solids insuspension in the foul feedwater without material. interruption in the service of the locomotive. This method is performed by introducing throughthe top of the boiler superheated water under suflicient pressure and of a higher temperature than that in the boiler, while thefoul water of lower temperature is blown off throu h the blow-off cock at the bottom of the boiler. Manifestly the steam in the boiler is saved, and the boiler is recharged so quickly that it can be frequently performed between the trips of a locomotive.

The plant for carrying out the improved method is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which the roundhouse is equipped with a series of pipes comprising a blow-off main 10, a feed-water main 11, and a main 12 for wash ng-water. These extend around the roundhouse and are.provided with taps or connections in suitable number, according to the capacity of the roundhouse. Each blow-off connection for the blow-off main 10 comprises a pipe standard or leg 13, connected to the blow-off main, as at 14, and branch pipes 15, connected to the lower end of pipe 13, each of which is provided with a valve 16 for respectively controlling communication between the blow-off main and a locomotiveboiler at each side of the pipe 13. Pipe 13 is arranged midway between two enginestalls, so that a locomotive at either side can be blown ofl through pipe 13 or, if desired, a

locomotive can be blown off through both of its cocks 18. A flexible pipe 17 is adapted to connect each branch pipe 15 with the blowoff cock 18 usually provided at each side of the locomotive-boiler. The blow-off water and sediment in the locomotive-boiler will, by reason of the pressure in the boiler, be forced through Cooke 18, flexible pipes 17, valves 16, and pipe 13 into the blow-off main. The connections for blowing off steam into the blow off main (see Fig. 2) each comprise a.

valve 19, connected to main 10, pipe 20, pipestandard 21, and a pipe 22, one end of which.

is adapted to be connected to a valve 23, usually provided in the ,dome. of the boiler. Pipes 21 and22 are provided with flexible joints 24 for convenience in connecting the dome of the boiler to the blow-off andfeedwater mains. When this connection to the dome has been made, the blow-off steam can pass through pipes 22, 21, and 20, valve 19- into the blown-offmain 10. The connection comprising pipes 21 and 22 serves also as a filling connection. A pipe 20 is connected to pipe-standard-21 and to a valve 23, which is connected to. feed-water. main 11. (See Fig. 2.) This connection makes it possible to said branches.

to introduce feed-water into the through the dome connection. The feedwater main is also connected by a 'pe-standard or leg 24.to branches 25, whic have terminals adapted to be connected by flexible pi es, such as 17, to the blow-off plugsat the si es of the locomotive.- A 'valve 27 controls supply of feed-water to branches 2'5, and a valve 28 adjacent one terminal of pipe controls passage through one terminal. Valves 32 and'28 control passage of feedwater to the other terminal of pipe 25. Obviously by means of valves 28, 32, and 28 feed-water can be supplied through either or both of the terminals of branches 25 to the boilers adjacent the leg 24.

The wash-out main 12 is connected to sup-' ply washing-water to branches 25 by a pipestandard 29, which is connected to said branches and is provided with a valve 31.

for controlling the passage of washing-water A valve 32 is arranged between the pipes 29 and 13 to cut oifcommunication therebetween, so that the terminal at one side can be used for refilling while the terminal at the other side'can be used for washing. By manipulation of valves 27, 28, 32, and 28 either or both of the terminals of branch 25 can be used for supplysired, an exhaust-steam heater A can be used to heat the fresh water before it passes to the superheater E.. The superheater is preferably a fuel-heater, but may be of any suitable type. The su erheater raises .the temperature of the fee -water sufiiciently say to 300 Fahrenheitso that the water introduced into the top of the boiler will be of higher temperature than that in the boiler, and bein of lower specific gravity the fresh water wil not readily commingle with the impure water and solids in suspension of lower temperature. Resultantly during the filling and blowing-off o eration the fresh water and foul Water wil remain separated to a great extent. A pipe 45 supplies fresh water to heater A, and the water passes'from said heater by. a pipe to a steam-pump F,

( from which said water passes by pipe 61 to the superheater E. Pipe 62 conducts t e superheated water from heater E to feedwater main 1 1 in the roundhouse. A checkvalve 63 in pipe 61 prevents backflow of the water under pressure in the feed-water main.

The supply of water from heater A to the boiler pum F is supplied by a pipe 65.

tained. It'wil be understood that this governor can'be' regulated so thatthe desired pressure necessary to cause feed-water to .enter-theboiler can be established in the feed-waterline. Steam for the operationof circu a-ting-pipe 66 is-connected to one end of the feed-water main 11 and to pipe 60 to maintain circulation in the feed-water vline, and whereby the feed-water throughout the supply-line will always be kept at the desired temperature, and thereby avoid a fracture of a part of the boiler, likely to result on injection of cold water. Pipe 45 has direct con.- nection 45 with pipe 60, so that if there is no supply of hot water in reservoir A fresh water can be pumped directly from the supply-main 45 to the superheater.

The improved method is carried out with the apparatus described in the following manner, viz: Hose bonnection 17 is coupled, to the blow-off cock at the side of the boiler, and pipe 22 is connected'to the domec ock 23. Valves 18 and 16 are then opened to discharge the water containing the accumulated solids in suspension, so the solids and the water of the lowest temperature in the boiler will be blown Qffinto main 10, which may conduct the blow-off to any desired point. Simultaneously superheated water, under necessary pressure greater than that in the boiler, will be supplied through the dome connection and into the boiler. The difference in temperature between the superheated feed-water and the water in the boiler will cause the fresh feed-water to remain near the top of the boiler, so that it will not commingle with the impure Water and solids near the bottom of the boiler, which will be blown off. To prevent agitation of the wa ter in the boiler to such extent that the impure water will commingle with the hot fresh water, a digvider orsprayer 0 may be connected to the dome-cock 23, so that the stream of fresh feed-water entering the boiler will be divided or distributed- Manifcstly, then, the impure water with the solids in suspension at the bottom of the boiler. will be discharged and replaced by fresh water as the impure water leaves the boiler. For this purpose it is not necessary to bank or ut out the fire. The locomotive remains lot during the entire recharging operation, and thus avoids the material changeof temperature and resultant expansion and contraction which strain the boiler. By this improved method impure water can be fre- A small loo quently replaced in a very short period, and,

motive is materially lengthened without washing out the locomotive-boiler.

The particular apparatus illustrated does not form any part of the present invention, and for a fuller description thereof reference may be had to my application filed April 21, 1905, Serial No. 256,711.

Manifestly the invention is not to be understood as restricted to the particular details of practice set forth, but may be modified within wide limits without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-T 1. That improvement in cleaning locomotive-boilers which consists in blowing ofl the impure feed-water from the boiler, and simultaneously forcing freshhotwater under off. i

r 2. That improvement in cleaning locomo- -tiveboi1ers which consists in blowing ofl the locomotive-boilers which consists in forcing fresh water under pressure and of a higher temperature than that in the boiler, into the boiler, and simultaneously discharging the" impure water from the boiler.

FREDERICK A. GALE. Witnesses:

FRED GERLACH, FRANK GALE.

pressure into the'boiler to displace the blow-fzo 

